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In todays episode, you will learn what the foundation of true freedom is in our nation.“True Freedom begins in the government of God in Christ Jesus.” —Barry H. DurmazThe other 6 days a week, Sean Morgan hosts shows about defeating America's enemies through civic solutions. On Sundays, he interviews author Barry H. Durmaz about Christ's Kingdom government principles for spiritual solutions to America's problems.Subscribe To Podcast and Video Channels:http://SundayScriptures.orgSocial Links: https://linktr.ee/SundayScripturesForPatriotsBarry H. Durmaz:https://LibertyIsTheLaw.USSupport and Love our Mission —Join our Treasure Team!https://www.libertyisthelaw.us/treasure_volunteerSean Morgan:https://SeanMorganReport.comKeep me on the front lines of the digital battlefield by supporting my work here: https://donorbox.org/seanmorganreportSponsors Who Support Our Ministry:Get a Free Gold Consultation.Call Dr. Kirk Elliott at +1 720-605-3900 https://SovereignAdvisors.net/pages/seanmorgan/Is the corporate coffee you drink contributing to America's decline?Support A Christian Patriot Coffee Companyhttps://www.TheGreatAwakeningCoffee.com/QFAQDiscount Code: QFAQHero Soap Company makes natural soap that is healthier for you and your family using essential oils, goats milk, and coconut oil. If you have sensitive or dry skin, it's perfect for you.Every purchase helps the heroes like homeless vets get a place to live. Go to www.HeroSoapCompany.com/discount/qfaqCoupon Code QFAQScriptures Referenced In This Episode:Matthew 4:4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' ”Genesis 37, 39 - 47Matthew 20:16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”Matthew 11:28-29Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”1 John 3:4Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.John 7:37-38On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.Isaiah 55:8-9“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts.1 Corinthians 9:7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?Support the show (https://donorbox.org/seanmorganreport)

Sixers BurialState of the Sixers addressBen is leaving his dad behind?Simmons trade targetsNets lose in 7Who is fair to blame someone for a loss?Does coaching matter in Brooklyn?CALL THE PODCAST VOICEMAIL 347.871.1044For all pod and video content hit up -> WWW.THEESAMD.COMFollow:Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDIG https://www.instagram.com/theesamd/Pod Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDPodcastPod IG https://www.instagram.com/theesamdpodcast/YouTubeMERCH -> https://is.gd/sJIStnNever Forget:#phillywillALWAYSletYOUdown#blackvoicesmatter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sixers BurialState of the Sixers addressBen is leaving his dad behind?Simmons trade targetsNets lose in 7Who is fair to blame someone for a loss?Does coaching matter in Brooklyn?CALL THE PODCAST VOICEMAIL 347.871.1044For all pod and video content hit up -> WWW.THEESAMD.COMFollow:Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDIG https://www.instagram.com/theesamd/Pod Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDPodcastPod IG https://www.instagram.com/theesamdpodcast/YouTubeMERCH -> https://is.gd/sJIStnNever Forget:#phillywillALWAYSletYOUdown#blackvoicesmatter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sixers BurialState of the Sixers addressBen is leaving his dad behind?Simmons trade targetsNets lose in 7Who is fair to blame someone for a loss?Does coaching matter in Brooklyn?CALL THE PODCAST VOICEMAIL 347.871.1044For all pod and video content hit up -> WWW.THEESAMD.COMFollow:Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDIG https://www.instagram.com/theesamd/Pod Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDPodcastPod IG https://www.instagram.com/theesamdpodcast/YouTubeMERCH -> https://is.gd/sJIStnNever Forget:#phillywillALWAYSletYOUdown#blackvoicesmatter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sixers BurialState of the Sixers addressBen is leaving his dad behind?Simmons trade targetsNets lose in 7Who is fair to blame someone for a loss?Does coaching matter in Brooklyn?CALL THE PODCAST VOICEMAIL 347.871.1044For all pod and video content hit up -> WWW.THEESAMD.COMFollow:Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDIG https://www.instagram.com/theesamd/Pod Twitter https://twitter.com/TheeSamDPodcastPod IG https://www.instagram.com/theesamdpodcast/YouTubeMERCH -> https://is.gd/sJIStnNever Forget:#phillywillALWAYSletYOUdown#blackvoicesmatter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV) What is being in the faith? Without question, it is faith in Christ Jesus. I don’t think any believer would argue with that, but just in case, here are some verses about it: Acts 3:16, 6:7, 14:22, 16:5, 26:18; Romans 3:22, 26; Galatians 3:22; Philippians 1:27, where a parallel is drawn between the gospel of Christ and the faith of the gospel; Colossians 1:4, 23, 2:5, 7, 12, and so on. First Timothy 3:13 settles it for me: “in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The following portion of the Scripture tells us exactly how the faith in Christ is defined. Do you want to know what the Apostle Paul called the faith in Christ? It is clearly stated when Paul preached to Governor Felix and his wife Drusilla. 24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self- control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid (became frightened, “trembled” in at least 7 translations, terrified, much alarmed) and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” (Acts 24:24, 25 NET- parenthesis- my comment) Faith in Christ was defined in this passage as a message that expounded on righteousness, self-control, and judgement to come. What? Really? Does that sound like most modern-day “gospel” messages concerning faith in Christ? That was the essence of Paul’s gospel message. Some would say that there is no need to tell sinners they need self-control or to speak of judgment because that would not be very loving towards them, but Paul did that. Some may think that to speak to sinners about righteousness is a waste of time, or not something that will be conducive to their conversion, and that it may turn them off to the gospel. Tell that to the Apostle Paul. The text calls righteousness, self-control, and judgement to come a “faith in Christ” message. Have our gospel messages been missing some things? Righteousness, self-control, and judgment as the definition of ministering the faith in Christ sounds almost identical to what Jesus said the Holy Spirit was sent to do. “And He, when He comes, He will convict (expose, convict, reprove, rebuke) the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8 NKJV) What Paul stated to Felix, and what Jesus said to His disciples, were both referring to the same thing. Paul used the term “self-control” when talking about “sin”. The connection between sin and a lack of self-control should be obvious. If you sin, it is because you did not exercise self-control. Self-control is control of your actions by the Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Self” does not infer that you are by yourself or that you are alone in this matter. It infers that the action starts with you. The Holy Spirit is not your enforcer, but He is your Helper. (John 16:7) In other words, the Holy Spirit will help you to do what is right. He will not make you obey God’s Word, but He will help you to do what is right according to God’s Word. The word convict (Gr. elegcho) in John 16:8 is translated in Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon as “reprehend severely, call to account, correct, to show one his fault.” The same word is found in 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 1:13, 2:15; Hebrews 12:5, and in the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:19: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (NKJV) Rebuke, that is, to reprehend severely, call to account, correct, to show one his fault must come when a lack of self-control is evident. (See also elegcho in John 3:20, 1Corinthians 14:24, and Ephesians 5:11.) Sin is the result of a lack of self-control that opposes God’s Word and commandments. James 1:14-16 in the Amplified Bible clarifies the process of sin from lust or some evil desire, to conception, and to execution.  The word elegcho in Luke 3:18, 19 is translated rebuked: 18 And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done. John the Baptizer was proclaiming the “good news” or the gospel to the people, and it was not at all sugar and spice and everything nice. Go back into Luke chapter three and begin reading from verse three. You will see all the elements of rebuking, such as “reprehend severely, call to account, CORRECT, to show one his fault.” He called those practicing sin “offspring of vipers”! That was not your typical sermonette with all smiles and niceties! 7Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Luke 3:7-9 NET) Then, to top it all off, he had the gall to call Herod the tetrarch to account because of his adulterous relationship with the wife of his brother. Verse 18 says that even with all of John’s rebuke, correction, conviction, exposing, and calling to account that it was THE GOSPEL, the proclamation of the good news! And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people. (Luke 3:18 NKJV) Good news of the gospel? Does Luke chapter 3 sound like our interpretation of what can be included in a good gospel message? No, it does not! It makes one wonder if something could be missing from our gospel messages if it is only preaching about salvation, healing, and the blessings of God! Yes, there is something terribly missing if that is all the people hear out of their preacher or pastor. Sometimes, there must be rebuke, correction, conviction, exposing, and calling to account. These cannot be left out when necessary, that is, IF it is a real gospel message. John was a minister according to the meaning of a true gospel message. Even Jesus was tough and no-nonsense often, and He was specifically anointed to announce the good news or gospel message. (Luke 4:18) Take a look at Matthew 23 where He viciously rebukes the hypocritical among the Pharisees, and slams Jerusalem for killing the prophets sent to it. Read the whole chapter. It's an eye opener. Does the following sound like any "good news message" we know of today? Remember, Jesus said this, and it was not "sugar and spice, and everything nice." I say this because many think all Jesus taught was love and acceptance (tolerance), and He was always soft toned, and tame as a little lamb. Nothing could be further from the truth! Here are some excerpts from the fiery preacher and astonishing powerhouse known as Jesus: "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!... Therefore you will receive greater condemnation... Fools and blind... You make your followers twice the sons of hell that you are... “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence... For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness... "  And, one more for the road:  "Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?"  Jesus was no pushover. In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 His rebukes and calling into account were hard and often harsh. It is true He also praised the churches when they did what was right, but He held nothing back in His messages to the churches when a sharp rebuke was necessary.  Now read in Mathew 11:20-24 and the Master's rebuke against the cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum because even though great miracles were done in them, they refused to repent. He condemned Capernaum to hell (Hades)! That was good gospel preaching, but wait because there is more. So, you want acceptance or tolerance in the words of Jesus? Here is His idea of acceptance and tolerance for those that refuse to repent and continue in their sin. Are you ready? It's a spanking for the backside! 23"And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:23, 24 NKJV) There's your tolerance.  I’ll never forget one brother in the Lord, himself a minister and teacher, that told me before I stood to preach and minister, “Brother, just preach Heaven to them. Give them Heaven!” I knew something was off, but it took me some time to learn from the Lord what it was. If all you do is preach “good or inspiring verses” and uplifting and positive messages without the other we have been talking about, then we have missed Heaven’s idea of good news. It may not seem like all of what John the Baptizer preached was good news, but that would be an assessment from a human perspective. From the Scriptural perspective, and therefore from God’s viewpoint, it was all good news because it brought conviction and correction. John’s gospel message called people to account and allowed the Father to work on their hearts so repentance would come, and real change could take place in their lives! Think about that. Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. (Revelation 14:6 NET) Are you ready for a shift in your thinking? It will shock all those that think “gospel” is sweetie pie and kind preaching. It will shock all those that think we should have sweetness in our gospel message because if it gets too harsh people will leave or tune out the message.  Next is a sample of the eternal gospel, but pay close attention to the content. It covers areas not traditionally understood as a gospel message. 7 He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” 8 A second angel followed the first, declaring: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.” 9 A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, 10 that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.” 12 This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: ‘Blessed are the dead, those who die in the Lord from this moment on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their hard work, because their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:7-13 NET) Gospel announcement included revelation, instruction, rebuke, correction, mention of God’s anger and wrath, the lake of fire for the followers of the beast, and the hour of God’s judgment! It pointed out the immorality of those following Babylon’s example. Notice that gospel preaching includes faith in Jesus, but also mentions obedience to God’s moral commandments. It even speaks of the coming judgment where believers will be rewarded for their good works. Wow, all that and a call to the fear of God to headline that gospel message! Does that sound anywhere near to what many believe to be the gospel message? Gospel includes a whole lot more than salvation, healing, deliverance, and the blessing of God. Gospel includes more than telling people about the plan of salvation and the Lord Jesus.  Here is more proof of what I am writing about. 9 Realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers—in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. 11 This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me. (1 Timothy 1:9-11 NET) What? Paul says that these are in accord or agree with the glorious gospel message. That means that within the gospel message there will preaching against these sinful lifestyles and practices. Why, because at times there must be exposing of these things. There must be correction and calling to account even before the lawless, rebellious, ungodly, sinners, unholy, profane, murderers, sexually immoral, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers and for all those that live contrary to sound teaching. That means that sound teaching will teach people to live contrary to all those things mentioned or inferred.  The references in Luke, Revelation and First Timothy reveal that the gospel includes all these elements usually not associated with “gospel preaching.” What gospel message are you listening to? In general, many in the body of Christ have gotten away from such preaching themes. Messages have been watered down to the place they often sound like psychological hogwash and not like the Bible. At one church I attended, they brought in some foolish person to teach that women see through pink glasses and men through blue. Could you imagine that instead of going to the Scripture, they were teaching that nonsense to couples at Church? I exited and never went back after the first few minutes of the man’s psychological talk. It was all talk with ZERO anointing! It was all an offshoot of the “women are from Venus” and “men are from Mars” psycho-babble that is really against the sound teaching of Scripture. So many churches have moved away from real strong gospel messages, and have embraced messages of self-help, cotton-candy, sugar-coated fluff meant to “inspire” the senses instead of informing, rebuking when necessary, correcting weird and wrong ideas, exposing sin, and revealing the truth of God’s Word. Churches have often become country clubs and entertainment venues with no power from heaven, no anointing, and no conviction. Some started with an anointing, and later lost it by trying to become respectable and likeable.  Some have gotten away from ministering to the sick through the laying on of hands (of course, dead churches don’t do that anyway), and many no longer pray in public for people to be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in other tongues. I am speaking about so-called Spirit-filled churches or Pentecostal, Charismatic, Full-Gospel churches. Many no longer have altar calls. If they pray for people to receive Jesus, it is done without an altar call. Everybody is led in a prayer and the “saved” no longer make a public confession of their faith in Christ Jesus. Have you noticed that some churches let altar workers pray with those that stay after the service is dismissed? The pastor rarely prays for people. Other churches, instead of teaching the saints according to God’s Word, they entertain their audience for an hour or two! Hollywood style entertainment has invaded many churches with their “broad is the way” (known as Broadway) replacing the straight and narrow way Jesus taught. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NKJV) So, what did Paul preach according to the faith in Christ to Felix and Drusilla? Here it is in a nutshell. 1. Righteousness: The main points: * It is a gift (Romans 4:23-25, 5:17) received upon initially believing and trusting in what Jesus did and provided for us when God raised Him from the dead and we confessed Him as our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9, 10). *The gift can be interrupted by sin, but confessing our sins before the Lord, we can be forgiven and cleansed from all un-righteousness, restoring our relation to God. See 1 John 1:7-10, 2:1,2. *Righteousness includes righteous living according to God’s moral commandments. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him… Little children let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (1 John 2:29, 3:7, 10 NKJV) See also Titus 2:11, 12; and compare it with Titus 1:8, where a leader must be “righteous”. If righteousness is only a gift that has nothing to do with conduct or lifestyle (Christian character) then why bother to list it as a qualification? No, Paul taught that righteousness is also a lifestyle of doing what is right. See also 1 Timothy 6:11- “pursue righteousness, godliness” and 2 Tim. 2:22- “flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Even after our initial cleansing in the blood and the renewal in the Spirit that placed us in His righteousness, we must pursue righteous living as an everyday reality. 2. Self-control Main points: Self-control is “self-restraint, temperance, control of ones passions, desires, and sexual impulses.” It means to control yourself according to God’s word and commandments, His requirements. You dominate your body’s unruly desires. The Holy Spirit will not do it all for you. He requires your personal and individual participation. He will empower you to have dominion over your body and rule over any passion or evil desire that would try to get you off the Word and holiness. It is God’s armor, but we must put it on. God will not put the armor on you. (Eph. 6:10-17) We are to put off the old man and put on the new man. (Eph. 4: 22, 24) We cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, and we put on the Lord Jesus (Romans 13:12-14) The above means that every Christian has a daily responsibility. Every day we are to take up our cross and follow Him. If we do not put on Jesus today, then we are without Him during that day. If we do not put on the armor of light daily, then it never will come on you on its own. Nothing is automatic in God’s kingdom and you have responsibilities, orders, commandments, requirements, duties, and something is demanded of you daily. Some have said, “Oh, I just couldn’t help it. I just had to do it.” Lies, Lies, Lies! That person didn’t submit to God and did not resist the devil. (James 4:7) They yielded to the unrenewed mind, conformity to the world, and the old man. They yielded to works of the flesh. Nobody made them do anything. They did it! Examine every time you ever did something wrong. I have and I know that I yielded to sin because I flat out desired the wrong thing. I let the wrong thing get into my mind and work on my flesh, and I sinned! It was not God’s fault but my own. An admission like that demonstrates spiritual growth when you are willing to admit or confess your faults and receive forgiveness and cleansing from the Lord. (See James 5:16. And 1 John 1:9.) That truly demonstrates humility when you admit your wrongs and come before God in repentance. (See Proverbs 28:13.) The humble are the ones that get the grace (1 Peter 5:5, 6). Examine yourself whether you are in the faith! Isn’t that our main text from 2 Corinthians 13:5? 3. Coming Judgment Main points: Eternal judgment in Hebrews 6:1, 2 is one of the principal teachings of Christ. Eternal judgment is both for the righteous and the wicked. There is eternal judgment and a judgment that comes on those that refuse to repent and continue to practice sin. *Judgment on the wicked: Revelation 20:4, 12, 13, 21:7. *The judgment seat of Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:10. *Judging yourself so you stay out of judgment while on the earth: See 1 Corinthians 11:29, 34. First John 1:9 is a great and powerful gift to the followers of Jesus. It is our way out of certain judgment and our way back into cleansing, forgiveness, and the unchanging righteousness of Jesus. For forgiveness and cleansing, all we have is His shed blood for us. He is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins (1 John 2:1, 2), and His blood cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) We have much more to say about all this, but that is sufficient for today. Hear the podcast Repentance Part 10 and be mightily blessed!

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth…...he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.  John 9:1, 6–7Who was this man?  Interestingly, he does not have a name.  He is only referred to as the “man blind from birth.”  This is significant in the Gospel of John because the lack of a name is also seen, for example, in the story of “the woman at the well.”  The fact that there is no name indicates that we should see ourselves in this story.  “Blindness” is our inability to see the hand of God at work all around us.  We struggle to see the daily miracles of God’s grace alive in our lives and alive in the lives of others.  So the first thing we should do with this Scripture is strive to see our lack of sight.  We should strive to realize that we so often do not see God at work.  This realization will inspire us to desire a spiritual healing.  It will invite us to want to see God at work.  The good news is obviously that Jesus cured this man, as He willingly cures us.  To restore sight is easy for Jesus.  So the first prayer we should pray as a result of this story is simply, “Lord, I want to see!”  The humble realization of our blindness will invite God’s grace to work.  And if we do not humbly acknowledge our blindness, we will not be in a position to seek healing.How He heals this man is also significant.  He uses His own spit to make mud and smear it on this man’s eyes, which is not immediately that appealing.  But it does reveal something quite significant to us.  Namely, it reveals the fact that Jesus can use something exceptionally ordinary as a source of His divine grace!If we look at this in a symbolic way we can come to some profound conclusions.  Too often we look for God’s action in the extraordinary.  But He so often is present to us in that which is ordinary.  Perhaps we will be tempted to think that God only works His grace through heroic acts of love or sacrifice.  Perhaps we are tempted to think that God is not able to use our daily ordinary activities to perform His miracles.  But this is not true.  It is precisely those ordinary actions of life where God is present.  He is present while washing the dishes, doing chores, driving a child to school, playing a game with a family member, carrying on a casual conversation or offering a helping hand.  In fact, the more ordinary the activity, the more we should strive to see God at work.  And when we do “see” Him at work in the ordinary activities of life, we will be healed of our spiritual blindness.Reflect, today, upon this act of Jesus and allow our Lord to smear His spit and dirt on your eyes.  Allow Him to give you the gift of spiritual sight.  And as you begin to see His presence in your life, you will be amazed at the beauty you behold.Lord, I want to see.  Help me to be healed of my blindness.  Help me to see You at work in every ordinary activity of my life.  Help me to see Your divine grace in the smallest events of my day.  And as I see You alive and active, fill my heart with gratitude for this vision.  Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2020 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Rob Coscia shares a powerful message on being changed and empowered by the grace of God.Zechariah 4:7Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” subscribe on iTunes

Have you ever played or heard of the game bigger and better? You start with something small and keep trying to trade for something bigger and better. The bigger, the better. Bob Goff tells the story of one time his son and his son’s friends played this. They all started with something small and went out into the neighborhood. Golf’s son started out with a dime. The first house he went to he said, I’m playing bigger and better and I was wondering if I could trade you this dime for something bigger or better? The man who answered the door yelled to his wife,  Honey we are playing bigger and better! What do we have that we can trade for a dime? They had an air mattress that they were no longer using- so they swapped that… Now that’s pretty great. A large air mattress is pretty big. However, he kept going. He traded the air mattress for a ping pong table. He traded the ping pong table, and made a dozen more trades as he made his way through the neighborhood… When he came home, he drove home in an old pickup truck, that he had traded for!  Goff said, he didn’t need a truck so he gave it to a local church to give away to a person starting over… That trade was the best, because trading the dime up for bigger and better all the way to a pickup was nothing in comparison in trading the pickup for the great sense of joy and love that came from helping someone in need. In this section of Corinthians, Paul talks about money and how we can trade it for something bigger and better. God is always giving us chances to trade up and be part of something bigger and better than ourselves. Money often creates controversy, and it was causing an issue between the Corinthians and Paul. But it’s not what you would expect. It was creating a problem, not because Paul was requesting funds but because he was refusing them. What? Let’s read this passage and figure out what’s going on. Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-14 Intro: Paul hadn’t needed funds from the Corinthians. He had a means of support that he had worked out through tent making with Aquila and Priscilla- and some of Paul’s critics were using this against him. They were saying that he wasn’t the real deal- that he wasn’t even a full time minister- that he couldn’t be a real apostle if he wasn’t doing this full time. Paul responds defending his apostleship and saying that he did deserve to receive material goods, but that he had forsaken that right because he found he could go farther, faster without relying on the financial support of the church and God had given him an alternative means of income in making tents. Paul’s point is that he not any less of an apostle because of this, he has simply chosen to fund his own ministry efforts. Currently in the FWB partnership of churches we have 2 churches that are on the rebound. They were very near the brink of closing. They had large amounts of debt and had lost just about all of their people. In both instances the pastor who came there had been uniquely gifted in that they had great skills for and opportunities in the secular workplace. James Lindsey in Ft Wayne runs a furniture factory. Travis Penn is a an IT guy and run the IT department for the school corporation in North Indy. Both of these men are not less than pastors. We do not look at them any differently except that we admire their willingness to pastor these churches and work regular work weeks at the other job. Because of their skill set and unique calling, the church is able to afford to move forward. Paul’s response to his critics is strange because he starts by saying I deserve to be paid, even though I’m not. Paul was defending his authority as an apostle, but he wasn’t trying to establish a precedent that all church leaders should find other employment. So he builds the case for his apostleship and the support of church leaders. So the first point here in chapter 9 is Material goods should be supplied to church leaders. 4Have we not power (the right) to eat and to drink? 7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Verse 9 is a quote of Deuteronomy 25:4 Refers to the practice of an ox dragging a sledge over grain separating the kernels from the stalk. They were not to muzzle the ox so that he could reap benefits from the grain he was treading. Then Paul asks, is God concerned for the ox? Paul is saying, If God is concerned about the ox, I’m sure he’s concerned about people- about the leaders of the church. Paul is saying, if God wants to make sure that the ox who helps harvest the grain gets a share of the fruits of his labor, surely your spiritual leaders and pastors should receive a share in the harvest- the fruits of his labors. In this passage Paul highlights that fact that every church leader is different, every scenario is different. Paul mentions that some of the apostles had wives that they were bringing along with them in ministry. Obviously Peter’s responsibilities were different than Paul’s. Paul had argued that though he didn’t marry, that was well within the rights of a believer. Paul is now arguing that though he doesn’t receive financial support from the church, that is well within the rights of the church leader. The next two points are what I want to get to… Material goods pale in comparison to Spiritual Benefits. 11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12aIf others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? In verse 11, Paul uses yet another rhetorical question- if we sow unto you spiritual things, is it a big deal that we reap or harvest carnal or material things? In other words, Paul is saying the seeds that we have planted in your lives are producing peace, joy, love, restoration, and purpose. All of these are much greater than what we ask for to support our families and take care of ourselves. Now Paul isn’t calling this a trade. You don’t get the spiritual help because you give financial support. You don’t have to give an offering to receive spiritual benefit. If you call me for counseling and help, I will not discuss payment plans with you first. When you come to the altar, your benefit is not contingent upon the offering. So it isn’t a trade, however, Paul is saying that if we compare what we receive with what we are asked to give, the deal is a pretty good one. However, many people fail to see it this way. For many, because the spiritual benefits are intangible- they can’t bring themselves to give their money which could purchase them tangible things- something that they can hold, or sit on, or ride in, or watch. None of the tangible stuff you have purchased in this life comes close to the value that is in the intangible goods you receive through God’s grace.  We struggle with this. We struggle to give and make an investment in the kingdom of God because we can’t see what we are purchasing. “Faith isn’t a formula or a business deal. In Short there’s nothing on the other side of the equal sign, just Jesus.” - Bob Goff We’ve traded our broken lives for something bigger and better. If we’ve trusted Jesus with our lives and received something far greater- why don’t we trust him to trade our material goods for something bigger and better? My phone is broken. It’s messed up. I can see messages and calls and sometimes I can answer them, but often I can’t. I went to the store to see about getting it fixed. They said, well you’ve got 4 months left on your contract so we’ll let you upgrade, but you have to trade in your phone and since it’s broken, we don’t want it. Well, if it wasn’t broken I wouldn’t need to trade it in… but because it’s broken I do need to trade it in but can’t. When we come to the Lord with our broken and shattered lives, he doesn’t say, “uh, well, I was actually looking to take an exchange on a moderately used life, not a broken one….” When we come to the Lord with our broken and shattered lives, he accepts us, no questions asked. If the Lord is willing to take your broken life- what sense does it make to not trust him with your money? If you are willing to trust God with your very life, why not trust him with your stuff?  Why not trust him with your funds? “You know your trusting God when you trust Him with your money.” - Nieuwhoff. You say, well I’m poor. I hardly have any money. That’s what’s great about the Lord- you don’t have to give a certain amount to qualify- you don’t have to reach some tier of giving- you just need to give.  The Lord calls us to give 10% as a tithe. For some of you, 10% isn’t very much, but it’s still obedience. For some of you, 10% is quite a bit but that means your 90% is still quite a bit. Though our income levels vary, we can all be obedient. Got a small paycheck, you can still be obedient. In fact, Jesus made it clear that the woman who had less to give exercised great faith because she gave out of need, not out of abundance. Though our gifts differ, we can all be part of something bigger and better than us. Then notice what verse 12 says, if others are partakers with you, are not we also? Paul is referring to other church leaders and teachers who had come through that the Corinthians had supported. Paul said, if they are worthy of your support, aren’t we? We established your church and introduced you to the gospel and now we are doing the same thing in another city, doesn’t that qualify as worthy of support? Now think about this in 2 ways. You pay people all of the time. You pay people to work on your car, you pay for tires, you pay for gas, you pay for cable and internet, you pay for fast food, you pay someone to cut your hair, you pay for everything. Paul says, if you are willing to pay for all of these things, shouldn’t you be willing to pay to support the people who lead you in a relationship with Jesus? If the Spiritual is more valuable than the material, why would we only pay to support those that provide the material?? Paul and Silas had established the church in Corinth and were now doing the same thing in another city that didn’t have a church. They were working so that another group of people could experience what they had experienced of the forgiveness and redemption of the Jesus. Our church exists because Free Will Baptists sent funds and offerings to support Bob Helms as he established a new church. We are here because God worked through the generosity of other churches to make this possible. There are missionaries who are doing the same thing right now, they are taking the gospel into cities where it is not represented. They are establishing new churches in places like Eerie, PA, and Irvine, CA and Tokyo, Japan, and India. They deserve our financial support. Last week at the NAFWB we ended the week with the missions service as we do each year. All missionaries who are able to be present come to the stage and are recognized, new missionaries are prayed for and commissioned. It’s very moving. Then this week I read of a missionary couple to Tokyo who are resigning and coming home in September because their funds have dwindled. Material goods are not a motivating factor for noble church leaders. 12bNevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. Paul only used money to reach the next opportunity to preach the gospel. We are not in this for the money,  we are in this to preach the gospel. verse 12 says we suffer all things lest we should hinder the gospel… 16 - I do this out of necessity. - Woe is me is I don’t preach the gospel. Paul was saying, give or don’t give, I’m still going to preach the gospel. Paul says, I’m compelled, I’m called! I must preach the gospel. I do not lead the church because I want the pay- I lead the church because I love the gospel and I must proclaim it! You will not be consumed with money if you are compelled by the gospel. Paul said, I’ll walk away from money to preach the gospel. Paul had traded money and stuff for something bigger and better, the gospel. Some of you, you love money. You cling to it. It consumes you. You are always angling to get more, make more, some of you- money consumes you because you spend it so fast on all the stuff that you want and all the stuff you so desperately want… Let me invite you to trade it for something bigger and better.

Philippians 2:6-7Who, being in the the form of God, thought if not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men

http://versebyversebibleteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/Hebrews_5_7_14.mp3 [audio: http://versebyversebibleteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/Hebrews_5_7_14.mp3] 7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; […]